Haider al-Abadi

Haider al-Abadi
Name	Haider al-Abadi
Caption	Al-Abadi in 2014
Office	Prime Minister of Iraq
President	Fuad Masum
Term start	8 September 2014
Term end	25 October 2018
Predecessor	Nouri al-Maliki
Successor	Adil Abdul-Mahdi
Office1	Minister of Communications
Primeminister1	Nouri al-Maliki
Term start1	2006
Term end1	2014
Predecessor1	Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi
Successor1	Hassan al-Rashid
Birth date	25 April 1952
Birth place	Baghdad, Kingdom of Iraq
Party	Islamic Dawa Party (until 2019), Victory Alliance (2018–present)
Alma mater	University of Baghdad, University of Manchester
Spouse	Firyal al-Abadi
Religion	Shia Islam

Haider al-Abadi is an Iraqi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 2014 to 2018. His tenure was defined by the military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and significant internal political and economic challenges. A longtime member of the Islamic Dawa Party, he succeeded Nouri al-Maliki and was succeeded by Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

Early life and education

Haider al-Abadi was born in 1952 in the capital city of Baghdad during the Kingdom of Iraq. He pursued higher education in engineering, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Baghdad. He later obtained a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, where he resided for many years during the rule of Saddam Hussein.

Political career before 2014

Al-Abadi's political involvement began with the opposition Islamic Dawa Party, which was banned under Ba'athist rule. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraq War, he returned to the country and served in the Council of Representatives. From 2006 to 2014, he held the position of Minister of Communications in the cabinets of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Prime Minister of Iraq (2014–2018)

Al-Abadi was appointed Prime Minister in September 2014, following the resignation of Nouri al-Maliki amid the ISIL offensive. His government immediately focused on confronting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, coordinating closely with the Iraqi Armed Forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the U.S.-led international coalition. Key military victories during his term included the liberation of Mosul in 2017 and the recapture of Tikrit. Domestically, he pursued reforms against corruption and sought to reduce sectarian tensions, though these efforts faced significant obstacles from within the parliament and various political blocs.

Post-premiership activities

After leaving office in October 2018, al-Abadi remained active in Iraqi politics. He leads the Victory Alliance political bloc and has been a vocal critic of subsequent governments, including those of Adil Abdul-Mahdi and Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani. He has also engaged with international forums, commenting on regional security issues involving Iran and the ongoing political dynamics within the Federal government of Iraq.

Political positions and views

Politically, al-Abadi is known for a nationalist and reform-oriented stance, advocating for a unified Iraq and criticizing foreign interference. He has supported a balance of power among Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, and Kurds. His views on governance emphasize technocratic efficiency and economic diversification beyond oil dependency, though implementing such a platform has proven difficult in practice.

Personal life

Haider al-Abadi is married to Firyal al-Abadi, and the couple has four children. He is a practicing Shia Muslim. His family remained abroad during much of Saddam Hussein's rule for security reasons. Details of his personal life are generally kept private, consistent with his reserved public persona.

Category:1952 births Category:Prime Ministers of Iraq Category:Islamic Dawa Party politicians